We have just returned from beautiful New Haven, Connecticutt! I have always loved this New England town with its harbor on Long Island Sound, its hilly, tree lined streets, the town square with its 18th century church and cemetery (some graves dating from the 17th century), pubs and seafood joints and, of course, the timeless, age-worn mellow beauty of Yale University. Practically the entire town is its campus, as schools of this discipline or that field occupy buildings throughout New Haven.

     This was our fourth, and possibly final, trip to New Haven, so David and I flew up two days early to make the most of our time there (annual meeting of the Knights of Columbus state deputies was the reason for the trip). Connecticutt is a beautiful state, and New Haven is the quintessential New England town. So much to see and do, there! We wanted to see and embrace as many of New Haven's treasures as we could that we hadn't had the time to squeeze into our schedules the previous trips.

     Favorite memories include the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, whose 800,000 volumes include a Gutenberg Bible; New Haven Green, the town's central square beneath which lie hundreds of graves, the headstones of which stand a few blocks away in Grove Cemetery; the bronze statue of Nathan Hale in the Old Campus block of Yale Univ. which isn't a likeness of the patriot spy, at all, but of a freshman student in the early 20th century; dinner at Sage American on the waterfront, Salsa dancing at the Wicked Wolf (formerly the Playwright) whose architectural features are bits and pieces of a Welsh and an Irish church that were torn down; sitting in the Oklahoma pew during Mass at St. Mary's Church where K of C founder Venerable Michael J. McGivney is entombed just inside the entrance to the sanctuary; dining on Lobster Newport at the New Haven Country Club, and of course reuniting with the many friends we have made from across the globe who also were in town for the conference.

     A side trip to Newport, Rhode Island provided an amazing treat: touring The Breakers, the opulent Vanderbilt mansion estate and lunch at the Viking Hotel. Yes, definitely a wonderful trip! If you are interested in learning more, call or write. I'm happy to share.

     I appreciate each one of you, and welcome your thoughts and suggestions. Drop me a line, anytime, through the Concierge Desk. 

      Sincerely,